How acetaminophen during pregnancy or in newborns may affect baby lungs
Pulmonary implications of perinatal acetaminophen exposure
This project looks at whether acetaminophen taken during pregnancy or given to newborns can harm developing lungs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11314505 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my point of view as a parent, researchers will study lungs from the saccular and early alveolar stages of development to see when they might be most vulnerable to acetaminophen. They will measure a lung enzyme called CYP2E1 that can turn acetaminophen into a toxic chemical and see which lung cells express it. The team will combine lab experiments, animal or tissue studies, and clinical data to link exposures before or just after birth with signs of lung injury. Their methods include molecular testing of lung tissue, timing of exposures, and comparison of lung structure and cell health after exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideally this research would involve pregnant people and newborns who had acetaminophen exposure or parents willing to share newborn clinical data or donate relevant samples.
Not a fit: Adults without a history of perinatal acetaminophen exposure or people with lung problems unrelated to early-life exposures would be unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify risks and help guide safer pain-relief choices for pregnant people and newborn care.
How similar studies have performed: Some clinical and laboratory studies have raised concerns about early acetaminophen exposure and later lung problems, but linking those effects to developmental CYP2E1 activity in the lung is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wright, Clyde Jason — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Wright, Clyde Jason
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.